The Fresh Market no longer plans to open in the Shoppes at Shoal Creek

In July 2015, The Fresh Market confirmed plans to open a Northland store in early 2016.

The Greensboro, N.C.-based specialty grocery store chain said it signed a lease in the Shoppes at Shoal Creek, at Missouri 152 and Flintlock Road. It started construction on the 18,020-square-foot space at 8550 N. E. Flintlock Road, between two other anchor tenants — Best Buy and La-Z-Boy furniture. The space formerly housed an Office Max.

But then work stalled and the Fresh Market “coming soon” sign came down.

Over the last few weeks the company hasn’t commented on the status of the location and as of Tuesday morning the location was still listed on the Fresh Market website as an “announced lease.”

Premium content for only $0.99

However, in a statement Monday afternoon, Drewry Sackett, public affairs manager for The Fresh Market, said: “We no longer intend to move forward with the project, and will be looking for alternative uses to backfill the space.”

The Fresh Market Inc., which was founded in 1982, is a high-growth specialty retailer focusing on fresh, premium perishables and other high-quality food products.

With a new store scheduled to open in Kissimmee, Fla., on April 26, the publicly traded company will operate 188 stores in 27 states. A location opened in Overland Park’s Prairiefire, 6261 W. 135th St., in mid-2013.

The grocer wants its customers to have a “European market” experience so the stores have soft lighting, antiques, wood floors and wood display counters, including bookshelves stocked with snack chips. Green-and-white striped canopies hang over the meat and bakery departments in back, and classical music plays overhead.

Block & Co. Realtors sold the property to Pine Tree Commercial Realty, a full-service real estate company specializing in retail and based in Northbrook, Ill., and then handled negotiations for the Fresh Market lease for Pine Tree. The Fresh Market is still listed as opening in the second quarter in Pine Tree’s online brochure for Shoppes at Shoal Creek.